Resilient clip construction



' June 10, 1958 c. KERTESZ 2,838,056

RESILIENT CLIP CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 7, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY RESILIENT CLIP C(IBNSTRUCTEON Carl Kertesz, Westbury, N. Y.

Application December 7, 1954, Serial No. 473,528

11 Claims. (Cl. 132-48) The present invention relates to a resilient clip construction and it particularly relates to a bifurcated metal clip Construction which may be utilized for binding together various types of fibres and sheet materials.

Although the present invention has a much broader application it is most useful in its application as a womans hair clip and it will be particularly described in such application.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple, readily manufactured, inexpensive, lightweight hair clip which may be utilized by hairdressers and by women in preparing, dressing or styling their hair, and

in which the jaws thereof maybe readily opened without vmerchandised and utilized without special implements or without injury to the hands, fingers or nails of the user in application, opening or removal.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art Without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects, it has been found most satisfactory according to one embodiment of the present invention to provide an integral bifurcated double jawed clip arrangement in which the entire structure is formed substantially from a single sheet of metal and in which the springiness or resiliency of the device is assured when the metal has been set or tempered.

Desirably the elongated sheet of metal which has been cut to form the bifurcations or legs is bent or formed so as to have a resilient bridge member with two outstanding finger contact or handle members by which the jaws may be removed from one another to permit insertion or application to the hair.

The bowed portion which forms the head of the clip may be so reversely folded as either to form a double U or semi-circular portion.

At the head of the clip there is provided two outstanding divergent lips stamped out of the metal of the clip. These outstanding lips will serve as handles to enable separation of the jaws which are pressed together by the resiliency of the curved or coiled bridge portion at the head of the clip. a

With. the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of theclip construction according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view upon the line 22 of Fig. 1 through the middle of the clip of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectionalview taken upon the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower portion of the bifurcated structure taken from the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view similar to Fig. 2 of an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of another alternative embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary side perspective view of the head portion of a third alternative embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a top perspective view of a fourth alternative embodiment, showing the head pivot portion.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional View taken upon the line 12--12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the head end of a fifth alternative embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a sixth alternative embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 1515 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view similar to Fig. 15 of a seventh alternative embodiment.

Referring to the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 there is shown a clip member with the upper bifurcated structure A, the lower bifurcated structure B and the head or resilient bridge structure C. Beyond the head or resilient bridge structure C are the manual actuators D which may also serve as handles.

The upper bifurcated structure A consists of two sinuous legs 10 which are connected adjacent their ends 11 by the bridge 12. These legs 10 are integral with the upper bridge structure 13 "forming part of the head C.

The lower bifurcated structure B consists of the two legs 14 which terminate at the lower bridge portions 15 forming part of the head structure C.

The bridge portions 13 and 14 continue to the bends 16 and 17 where they have the outstanding handle members 18 and 19. These members are stamped out of the metal of the bridge portions 13 where it is turned inwardly and the residual metal, as indicated at 20, forms two substantially complete circles which act as the resilient members closing the jaws A and B or the legs 10 and 14 together as indicated at the end E of the clip opposite the head C.

The structure as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is desirably formed out of one single sheet of metal and then the spaces 20 between the legs 10 and 14 are stamped out, following which the tongues or actuators D are stamped out of the metal and turned upwardly and outwardly so that they will assume the position as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Then the resilient hoops or circular members 20 are formed by forming the bends 16 and 17 which will place the clip in its final position. Thereupon the metal is tempered to give it the desired resiliency.

In the alternative form of invention shown in Fig. 6 there is shown an upper bifurcated structure G of substantially the same form as A in Fig. l, and a lower a solid or bifurcated structure H which may be of the same form as B in Fig. 2.

The upper and lower jaw or leg members G and H are connected by the head structure I which has two outstanding divergent handle or manual actuator members K.

The upper leg structure G has two corrugated side legs 30 connected by the bridge 31 and terminating in the head bridge 32 as is shown in connection with the elements 10, 12 and 13 of Fig. 1.

The lower member H may be solid or be bifurcated as are the elements 14 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The lower jaw structure terminates in the bridge member 33.

- The bridge members 32 and 33 are connected at the head I by means of the double U resilient member 34, which is stamped integrally or formed integrally out of the metal at each side of the bridge structure 32 and 33.

Beyond the double U structure 34 are the outstanding lips or handles 35 and 36. These lips or handles 35 and 36 are the same metal as has been stamped out between the double U connecting bridges 34 at each side of the clip of Fig. 6.

The structure of Fig. 6 may be formed similarly to that of Fig. 1' by stamping out the bifurcated leg structures G and H from a single sheet of metal and also stamping out the lips 35 and 36 between the bridges 34. Then the bridges 34 are formed in characteristic double U shape and the entire device is tempered to give it resiliency.

Desirably, the outer faces of the finger grip portions D in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 and K in the embodiments of Figs. and 6 may be knurled or roughened to give a better grip and prevent slippage particularly when the hair clips are inserted upon wet hair following a shampoo.

The circular spring portion 20 at its side edges 40 is separated from the corresponding portions 41 of the leg structure A and B as indicated best in Fig. 2. p

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, the leverage normally is obtained from the central point 42, which gives a much more eifective spreading action and gives a big opening with very little pressure.

The opening effect may be aided by spreading the finger portions D of Fig. 2 or K of Fig. 5 or by curving them.

In the embodiments of Figs. 7 and 8 the upper leg structure A and the lower leg structure B may be maintained in parallelism at their bifurcated portions by bending them inwardly as indicated at 45 and 46 in Figs. 7 and 8.

In this structure the portions 32 34 and 33 adjacent the fulcrum 43 will be parallel to one another instead of convergent or divergent as shown in Fig. 5.

The corrugated structure on the upper leg in Fig. 1 may be omitted and a single boss 47 employed.

The finger grip portions 182 and 192 are both caused to bifurcate in one direction, as shown best in Fig. 8, and their curved end portions 48 and 49 may be roughened or ridged to enable better gripping.

In the embodiments of Figs. 9 and a relatively wide single coil portion is employed which extends between the rear edges 50 and 51 of the upper and lower bifurcated structures A and B 7 This cylindrical portion 20 is encompassed by the finger grip portions 18 and 19 which are formed by folding bacl; the metal removed between the bifurcations at 52 and 53 and then turning it around the bow 23 as at '54 and 55.

The inwardly curved ends 48 and 49 may be turned toward each other and roughened for better gripping purposes.

In the embodiments of Figs. 11 and 12 there are two spring rings or bows 20 which are separated by the space 4 60. These members extend from the edges 50 and 51 and the strength with which the bifurcated legs A and B are pressed together is regulated by means of the width of the spherical sections 20 The finger grip portions 18 and 19 are bent over as indicated at 52 and 53 from the material between the bifurcations, as is true of the embodiments of Figs. 9 and 10.

In the embodiment of Fig. 13, the finger grip portions 18 and 19 extend between the side bows 29 These portions constitute continuation of the bifurcated legs of the upper member A and the lower member B The finger grip portions 18 and 19 are the metal which is removed from the space between the bifurcations of the upper and lower members A and B In the embodiments of Figs. 14 and 15, the pair of spring bows 20 is positioned on the sides and are continuations of the bifurcations of the upper and lower clip elements A and B The upper finger grip portion 18 is formed first by bending backwardly an integral portion of the clip at 61 and then bending it rearwardly again as indicated at 62 to form the finger grip portion 18 The lower finger grip portion 19 may extend directly rearwardly from the lower portion of the lower clip element B In the last embodiment of Fig. 16, the construction is substantially the same as Figs. 14 and 15 except that the upper finger grip element 18' is not folded back but extends directly rearwardly from the upper bifurcated element A".

The bow 20 in this embodiment is also positioned on top of the upper element A as in Fig. 15 while the lower finger grip element 19 extends directly rearwardly from the lower bifurcated clip B It will be noted that the spring bows 20 and 20" both are formed by bending the metal first reversely as indicated at 61 and 61" to form fiat portions 63 and 63", which are directly on top of the top elements A and A followed by extending it upwardly and then downwardly to the lower elements B and B Furthermore, it will be noted that the leg structures of the embodiments of Figs. 7 to 15 are parallel to one another instead of being inclined to one another, as in Figs. 1 to 5 and this is done by suitably bending the metal adjacent the pivot structures.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a relatively simple, lightweight, low cost, durable, resilient clip construction particularly suitable for use in hair waving, hair dressing and hair styling, and also having broad application in holding or clipping fibrous or sheet materials.

The device may be made by high speed automatic machinery and according to current mass production procedures.

As many changes could be made in the above resilient clip construction, and many widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without department from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. A one piece integral resilient metal clip construction having opposing bifurcated jaws, a connecting resilient bridge consisting of a triple U-structure extending into and being integral with the jaws and with the inside legs of the outside U-members joining integrally with the two legs of the inside U-member, said legs of said three U- members being spaced apart and parallel to each other when the jaws are together and being inclined toward each other when the jaws are separated, with the four legs of the three U-members being movable toward and away from each other, and outstanding divergent lips from said bridge serving as manual actuators to separate said jaws when pressed together, said construction being stamped and folded out of a single sheet of metal.

2. A one piece integral resilient metal clip construction having opposing bifurcated jaws, a connecting resilient bridge consisting of a triple U-structure extending into and being integral with the jaws and with the inside legs of the outside U-members joining integrally with the two legs of the inside U-member, said legs of said three U-members being spaced apart and parallel to each other when the jaws are together and being inclined toward each other when the jaws are separated, with the four legs of the three U-members being movable toward and away from each other, and outstanding divergent lips from said bridge serving as manual actuators to separate said jaws when pressed together, said construction being stamped and folded out of a single sheet of metal, said bridge consisting of a sinuous connecting member between the opposing bifurcated jaws.

3. A one piece integral resilient metal clip construction having opposing bifurcated jaws, a connecting resilient bridge consisting of a triple U-structure extending into and being integral with the jaws and with the inside legs of the outside U-members joining integrally with the two legs of the inside U-mernber, said legs of said three U- members being spaced apart and parallel to each other when the jaws are together and being inclined toward each other when the jaws are separated, with the four legs of the three U-members being movable toward and away from each other, and outstanding divergent lips from i said bridge serving as manual actuators to separate said jaws when pressed together, said construction being stamped and folded out of a single sheet of metal, said connecting bridge consisting of three U shaped resilient connecting members extending between the bifurcated aws.

4. A one piece integral resilient metal clip construction having opposing bifurcated jaws, a connecting resilient bridge consisting of a triple U-structure extending into and being integral with the jaws and with the inside legs of the outside U-mernbers joining integrally with the two legs of the inside U-member, said legs of said three U- members being spaced apart and parallel to each other when the jaws are together and being inclined toward each other when the jaws are separated, with the four legs of the three U-members being movable toward and away from each other, and outstanding divergent lips from said bridge serving as manual actuators to separate said jaws when pressed together, said construction being stamped and folded out of a single sheet of metal, said jaws being convergent and extending in one direction from said bridge and said lips extending in the opposite direction divergently from said bridge.

5. A one piece integral resilient metal clip construction having opposing bifurcated jaws, a connecting resilient bridge consisting of a triple U-structure extending into and being integral with the jaws and with the inside legs of the outside U-members joining integrally with the two legs of the inside U-member, said legs of said three U- members being spaced apart and parallel to each other when the jaws are together and being inclined toward each other When the jaws are separated, with the four legs of the three U-members being movable toward and away from each other, and outstanding divergent lips from said bridge serving as manual actuators to separate said jaws when pressed together, said construction being stamped and folded out of a single sheet of metal, said bridge consisting of two side resilient elements left when the metal forming said lips has been removed therebetween.

6. A one-piece integral resilient clip construction stamped and bent out of a single flat sheet of metal comprising a gripping leg portion, a resilient hinge portion and a manual actuating arrangement, said gripping leg portion consisting of contacting pairs of legs biased together to press against each other, said resilient hinge portion being formed of an inside U-member having substantially spaced side legs and two outside U-rnembers having side legs with the inside members being integral with the side legs of the inside U-member and said inside U-member legs having integral divergent tabs cut out integrally from said side legs and bent about degrees away from said side legs with the tabs extending in the opposite direction from said pairs of legs forming said manual actuating arrangement and said outside U-memb ers also having bent integral substantially spaced extensions at the ends or" the U-member legs forming the connections to the base ends of said pairs of legs.

7. T he construction of claim 6, said U-member having its legs parallel to each other and extending in an opposite direction from the pairs of legs.

8. The construction of claim 6, said bent integral extensions being revers'ely bent from the ends of the U- inember legs forming a reverse U in respect to each said bent integral extensions.

9. The construction of claim 6, said gripping leg portions being in contact with each other and being positioned inside of the plane of said U-rnember legs and said U- member legs being positioned in parallelism to each other and being positioned inside of the plane of said'bent into gral extensions.

10. The construction of claim 6, said bent integral extensions and said divergent tabs both originating at the ends of said U-member and extending in different directions.

11. A one-piece integral hair clip consisting of two juxtapositioned elongated contacting finger members between which the hair is clamped, said fingers being provided at one end with an integrally joined sinuous triple U-shaped hinge and finger grip connecting portion, the connecting portion being integrally joined to the ends of the finger members by rearwardly divergent integral connection links connected to the ends of the outer legs of the outside Us' of the triple U-portion, the outside Us having parallel spaced legs extending toward the finger members and the middle U of the triple U-portion having parallel spaced legs extending away from the finger members, the legs of the center U being inclined together and the legs of the outside Us being inclined apart to separate the finger members by pressure of the fingers upon the connecting portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 25,407 Hawthorn et a1. Apr. 21, 1896 522,774 Ball July 10, 1894 1,257,639 Rosenberger Feb. 26, 1918 1,474,102 Ashmore Nov. 13, 1923 1,527,682 Hoffman et a1. Feb. 24, 1925 1,834,153 Hairns Dec. 1, 1931 1,893,508 Rosenberg Jan. 10, 1933 1,946,561 Wideirnan Feb. 13, 1934 2,101,742 Lognion Dec. 7, 1937 2,559,797 Renstrom July 10, 1951 2,622,604 Buckner Dec. 23, 1952 2,636,500 Schwartz Apr; 28, 1953 

